When the dust settles....
Inspired by sushidog's post, I need to lay down my case for 'tidy', 'clean' and 'friends'.
I believe there is a huge difference between tidy and clean. A house can be clean but not tidy (and I have seen tidy but not clean). My mother firmly believes in the protective qualities of a layer of dust for 'future antiques' and that too much cleaning is damaging to furniture anyway.
If I have friends coming over, or I get my act together, then my natural state is 'sort of tidy'. Teps' natural state is 'burn everything and sit on the floor'. I can live in quite a high level of untidyness, but I can't abide uncleanliness. I will actively get the dusters and hoover and brushes out before I expect friends, but in my head that shows a certain level of liking for my friends as I made the effort - I don't expect my friends to do the same for me, my friends are friends for who they are, not how well they scrub skirting boards.
Moo will happily live in bacteria heaven, and won't clean up before visits as all her friends 'know what I'm like'. She seems unable to grasp that it also reflects on me and Teps.
I find it difficult in houses that are perfect, as you don't quite now how to sit, or where to put anything and you have to be on 'best behaviour'. I personally prefer clean homes to tidy show houses.
So, are you a cleaner or a tidyer - and do you think you are judged on the tidyness of your home by visitors?
Thought for the day: If you spray furniture polish by the front door, visitors think you've spent the day polishing ;-)
I believe there is a huge difference between tidy and clean. A house can be clean but not tidy (and I have seen tidy but not clean). My mother firmly believes in the protective qualities of a layer of dust for 'future antiques' and that too much cleaning is damaging to furniture anyway.
If I have friends coming over, or I get my act together, then my natural state is 'sort of tidy'. Teps' natural state is 'burn everything and sit on the floor'. I can live in quite a high level of untidyness, but I can't abide uncleanliness. I will actively get the dusters and hoover and brushes out before I expect friends, but in my head that shows a certain level of liking for my friends as I made the effort - I don't expect my friends to do the same for me, my friends are friends for who they are, not how well they scrub skirting boards.
Moo will happily live in bacteria heaven, and won't clean up before visits as all her friends 'know what I'm like'. She seems unable to grasp that it also reflects on me and Teps.
I find it difficult in houses that are perfect, as you don't quite now how to sit, or where to put anything and you have to be on 'best behaviour'. I personally prefer clean homes to tidy show houses.
So, are you a cleaner or a tidyer - and do you think you are judged on the tidyness of your home by visitors?
Thought for the day: If you spray furniture polish by the front door, visitors think you've spent the day polishing ;-)